Adjustment for saxophone neck support



March 3, 1953 A, FlNDER 2,630,255

ADJUSTMENT FOR SAXOPHONE NECK SUPPORT Filed March 8, 194a IIQQQQQ v I Be 3b 40 4 FIG Z VEN TOR.

A. FINDER AGENT IN GEORGE Patented Mar. 3, 1953 ADJUSTMENT FOR SAXOPHONE NECK SUPPORT George A. Finder, San Diego, Calif., assignor to Fin-Der, Inc., San Diego, Calif.

Application March 8, 1948, Serial No. 13,677

7 Claims.

My invention relates to an adjustable neck support for musical instruments and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a support of this class having a binder adapted to be slideably adjusted longitudinally of the support by simple reciprocation thereof whereby the binder holds the support in the longitudinally adjusted position at which the binder is placed without attention to locking the same.

Second, to provide a support of this class having a novel chain binder through which parallel portions of the chain extend in a spaced relationship to an opening through which the middle of the chain extends whereby the middle of said chain in connection with the supporting hook exerts rotational force upon the binder causing an angular binding of the chain at said parallel portions which automatically locks the support in certain longitudinally extended position.

Third, to provide a support of this class in which the binder is very easily released by rotation thereof by the finger tips of the operator.

Fourth, to provide a musical instrument support of this class having novel adjusting means including a binder at the middle of a flexible member and engaging the parallel portions extending from a supporting hook intermediate the middle of the flexible member and the opposite end thereof, whereby very accurate adjustment of the support may be quickly accomplished.

Fifth, to provide a support of this class readily adapted for use in connection with various musical instruments.

Sixth, to provide a support of this class which is very comfortable to use, and

Seventh, to provide a support of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, efficient in operation, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon forming a part of this application in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a person playing a musical instrument employing my neck support for musical instruments in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of my neck support for musical instruments and Fig. 3 is an enlarged view taken substantially 2 to that as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, showing the neck engagement strap fragmentarily.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

The hook I, chain 2, binder 3, and neck-engaging strap 4 constitute the principal parts and portions of my neck support for musical instruments.

The neck-engaging strap 4 is a flexible flat strap having chain connection portions 4a at each opposite end. Opposite ends of the chain 2 are connected to the chain connection portions ta and the middle of the chain 2 extends through the opening 3a in the binder 3. Opposite ends 2a of the chain 2 are normally spaced and the chain 2 extending therefrom toward the hook I passes through openings 3b in bosses 30 at opposite sides of the binder 3. These openings 3b are axially disposed so that the opening 3a is arranged laterally thereof, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The hook I is provided with loop portion la and lb through which the parallel portions of the chain 2 extend from the ends 2a through the openings 31). The lateral disposition of the opening 3a, through which a weight-bearing portion of the chain 2 passes, to the axis of the holes 3b in the bosses 3c and the spacing of the opening 3a to the holes 3b provides for frictional kinking of the chain 2 when force is exerted on the chain binder 3 at the opening 3a therein through which the middle of the chain 2 passes which efiectively locks the chain 2 in certain extended position as desired. The outer peripheral surface of the chain binder 3 is provided with serrations 3d thereon for use in frictionally engaging the chain binder 3 for slightly rotating the same so that the openings 32) in the chain binder 3 are parallel to the axis of the chain 2 extending from the connection portions 4a of the strap 4 to the hook loops Ia and lb.

The operation of my new support for musical instruments is substantially as follows:

The hook I is connected to a saxophone or other musical instrument While the strap 4 is placed around the neck of the musician. The proper elevated support of the instrument is determined and the chain binder 3 is slideably moved upwardly or downwardly for adjusting the chain 2 intermediate the strap 4 and the hook I to the proper desired length. The chain binder 3 is then released and the middle portion of the chain 2 passing through the opening 3a tends to rotate the chain binder fandthe lugs '30 with the openings 3b therein causing the same to place a joggle in the chain 2 and frictionally engage the same. It will be noted that the chain 2 at its opposite parallel portions is readily slideable in the eye portions la and lb of the hook I and if desired only a single eye may be provided in the hook I which permits slideable relationship of the chain therethrough. When it is desired to release the chain binder 3 and move the same upwardly or downwardly on the chain 2, the binder 3 is rotated until the lugs 30 having the openings 31) therein parallel to the chain 2 permitting freely slideable relationship of the chain 2 through said openings 3b. After positioning the chain binder 3 at the desired location it is simply released and the middle portion of the chain 2 exerting force at the opening 3a in the chain binder 3 toward the hook I causes the chain binder 3 to rotate and again kink the chain as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, causing frictional binding thereof. It will be here noted, however, that other means may be equivalent to the chain 2 and that cord or similar flexible cable structure may be used in place of the chain 2, if desired.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a support adjustment means for musical instrument wherein there is a flexible neck-engaging means and a flexible cable structure having parallel portions, and a hook having eye means through which said parallel portions extend, the combination with said flexible cable structure and said hook of a binder having an opening through which the middle or" said flexible cable structure extends, and provided with secondary openings axially transverse thereto, through which the parallel portions of said flexible cable extend.

2. In a support acljustnient means for musical instruments wherein there is a flexible neck-engaging means and a flexible chain having parallel portions, and a hook having eye means through which said parallel portions extend, the combination with said flexible chainand said hook of a binder having an opening through which the middle of said flexible chain extends, and provided with secondary openings axially transverse thereto, through which the parallel portions of said flexible means extend, said firstmentioned openings in said binder being positioned laterally of the axes of said second-mentioned openings, said binder having laterally extending lugs through which said second mentioned openings project.

3. In a summit adjustment means for musical instruments wherein there is a flexible neck-en gaging means and a flexible chain having parallel portions, and a hook having eye means through which said parallel portions extend, the combination with said. f exible chain and said hook of a binder having an opening through which the middle of said flexible chain extends, and provided with secondary openings ax;- ly transverse thereto, through which the parallel portions of said flexible. means extend, said first-mentioned openings in said binder being positioned laterally of the axes of said second-mentioned openings, said binder having laterally extending lugs through which said second-mentioned openings project, said binder being substantially circular in cross-section and having serrated portions at its periphery and being positioned intermediate the parallel portions of said flexible chain.

4. In a neck-support adjustment means for musical instruments wherein there is a neck band having opposite ends of a flexible chain connected to opposite ends of said band whereby said flexible chain extends in parallel relationship with itself near its opposite end, the combination with said neck band and said chain of a binder intermediate the parallel portions of said chain having an opening therein through which the middle of said chain extends, said binder having laterally projecting lugs spaced from said opening, provided with openings therein axially transverse to the first-mentioned opening in said. binder, and through which the parallel portions of said chain extend.

5. In a neck-support adjustment means for musical instruments wherein there is a neck band having opposite ends of a flexible chain connected to opposite ends of said band whereby said flexible chain extends in parallel relationship with itself near its opposite end, the combination with said neck band and said chain of a binder intermediate the parallel portions of said chain having an opening therein through which the middle of said chain extends, said binder having laterally projecting lugs spaced from said opening, provided with openings ther in axially transverse to the first-mentioned opening in said binder, and through which the parallel portions of said chain extends, said firstmentioned opening being positioned laterally of the axes of the openings through said lugs.

6. In a neck support adjustment means for musical instruments wherein there is an instrument hook and a neck band having opposite ends of a flexible chain connected to opposite ends or said band whereby said flexible chain extends in parallel relationship with itself near its oppo site end, the combination with said neck band and said chain of a binder intermediate the parallel portions of said chain having an opening therein through which the middle of said chain extends, said binder having laterally projecting lugs spaced from said opening provided with openings therein axially transverse to the firstmentioned opening in said binder, said firstmentioned opening being positioned laterally of the axes of the openings through said lugs, said instrument hook having eye means en aging said chain between its middle portion passing through said first-mentioned opening in said binder and the parallel portions extending through said lug portions.

'7. In a neck-support adjustment means for musical instruments wherein there is an instrument hook and a neck band. having opposite ends of a flexible chain connected to opposite ends of said band. whereby said flexible chain extends in parallel relationship with itself near its opposite end, the combination with said neck band and said chain of a binder intermediate the parallel portions of said chain having an opening therein through which the middle of said chain extends, said binder having laterally projecting lugs spaced from said opening provided with openings therein axially transverse to the first-mentioned opening in said binder, said first-mentioned opening being positioned laterally of the axes of the openings through said lugs, saidinstrument hook having eye means engaging said chain between its middle portion passing through said first-mentioned opening in said binder'and the parallel portions extending through said lug portions, said eye means including a pair of opposed eyes through which said parallel chain portions extend.

GEORGE A.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Brayshaw Oct. 12, 1897 Lang Jan. 13, 1931 Robertson Nov. 23, 1937 Bates July 24, 1951 

